Mironov re-elected as Federation Council speaker

Moscow, Mar 30 (UNI) The Federation Council, the Upper House of the Russian Parliament, today re-elected Sergei Mironov as its speaker.

Mr Mironov was elected unopposed as no other candidate was put forward. One-fifty-six (156) Senators voted in his favour, with one abstention. No Senator voted against him.

Prior to the vote, the Federation Council reconfirmed him as a Senator representing St Petersburg's newly elected legislature.

Immediately after his election as speaker, Mr Mironov proposed extending the presidential mandate to five-seven years and adding a third term.

''I propose you consider amending the relevant constitutional provisions,'' he told the house.

He said he proposed legislatures all across Russia discuss the issue in April-May, with the President himself making the final decision.

Under the current Constitution, the President can be elected for two consecutive terms of four years.

''Four years is a very short term for Russia,'' Mr Mironov said, adding Russians had filed numerous applications asking the President to stay for a third term.

The prospect of President Vladimir Putin remaining in power for a third presidential term when his current term ends in 2008, has been widely debated in Russia, although Mr Puitn himself has repeatedly said he will not run again.

Meanwhile, the State Duma (Lower House) speaker Boris Gryzlov said he would not support the proposal by Mironov to extend the presidential term from four years to five or even seven years.

Congratulating Mr Mironov on his reelection as the Upper House speaker, Mr Gryzlov told journalists in St Petersburg that he did not ''support any statements regarding the introduction of amendments to the Constitution.'' UNI XC SB Mir RK1615